TORONTO — The West is won with three games to spare and the Calgary Stampeders are the toast of the CFL.

We didn’t need Monday’s game to confirm that the Stamps were the toast of the CFL, but the way the team dominated the Argos at BMO Field showed that there’s a considerable gap between the Stampeders and many of their rivals.

Here’s five major takeaways from Monday’s game:

1. History in the making

At this point in the season, it’s appropriate to start wondering where the 2016 Calgary Stampeders fit in when we talk about the great teams in CFL history.

The numbers suggest they’re right up there with the best.

Their CFL-record unbeaten streak now stands at 14 games.

They’ve got a very strong chance of tying the CFL single-season win record if they can win their next three and finish 16-1-1.

And they’ve already clinched their 19th first-place finish in team history.

Of course, nobody will talk about this year’s Stamps as being one of the CFL’s all-time great teams unless they finish the season by winning the Grey Cup, so the real work is just getting started.

2. Messam gets going

Argos coach Scott Milanovich said Sunday that stopping Jerome Messam was the key to slowing down the Stampeders offence.

Knowing that is one thing, but on Monday we saw that it’s also easier said than done.

Messam was a force of nature against the Argos, rumbling downfield for 133 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries, which was good for an average of 7.8 yards every time he touched the ball.

When Messam’s going, it forces defences to adapt and gives Bo Levi Mitchell just a little bit more time to find receivers.

When that happens, the Stamps offence is a scary, scary proposition for any opponent.

3. Receiver depth

As if the emergence of DaVaris Daniels wasn’t enough, now Kamar Jorden has stepped up to become a consistent downfield option for Mitchell.

Jorden made the most spectacular catch of the afternoon on Monday, sprawling out to get his hands on a 41 yard bomb into the front of the endzone.

Such is the Stamps’ depth at receiver that guys like Joe West and Bakari Grant are sitting on the bench these days, and both are fully capable of being difference-makers in the CFL.

Mitchell plays a huge part in making it all click, but his receivers are proving that having the most depth on the roster might be more important than having the biggest names.

4. Sack happy

As much credit as the Stamps offence deserves, the defence was just as strong on Monday.

In fact, had it not been for a fumble and a blocked punt, the Argos probably would never have gotten deep enough into Stamps territory to put up more than a field goal, and Argos QB Drew Willy certainly won’t be excited to see the defensive line or linebackers anytime soon.

Ja’Gared Davis picked up three sacks, Charleston Hughes had two and Joe Burnett had another, and suddenly the Stamps are tied with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for most sacks in the CFL.

5. Rest and be careful

With first place in the West all wrapped up and the Stampeders knowing their fates, head coach Dave Dickenson & Co. will have a tough balancing act to manage.

On the one hand, the Stampeders will have lots of time to recover from any minor injuries they pick up. They’ve got a bye for the final week of the regular season and then another for the opening round of the playoffs.

That means they’ll be going three weeks between games, but Dickenson will still want to make sure his players avoid any major injuries.

But staying sharp will be a challenge, and the Stamps will want to bring the same intensity to their remaining games that they’ve brought to the early part of the season.

With no genuinely meaningful games between now and November, guys like backup quarterback Drew Tate will probably see some playing time, but don’t expect the starters to suddenly be sitting out for weeks at a time.

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